Recognition

Xiao Yan had obtained an offensive Dou Technique in the treasure cave, one that had reached the Advanced Profound Rank. However, he had no experience practicing Dou Techniques, so he was in no hurry to begin.

What Xiao Zhan and the elders were discussing now was how to practice that Dou Technique. Once the four of them had gained some experience, he could use it as a reference for his own cultivation and achieve twice the result with half the effort.

Moreover, any Dou Technique suitable for Xiao Xun'er to learn could not possibly be ordinary. This was also a fire-control technique that could improve one's control over flames and aid in alchemy. Who would complain about mastering more of such a Dou Technique?

Especially Xiao Yan, who had never practiced a single Dou Technique before—it was all the more worth learning.

Xiao Yan nodded, then quickly realized that Xiao Xun'er was not learning this Dou Technique and fire-control method on a whim. She was doing so to strengthen her control over Heavenly Flames.

Whether they were sparks carried within meteorites that fell from the heavens, or lava fires tempered for hundreds or thousands of years deep within volcanoes, these Heavenly Flames born from strange environments had been described in the most terrifying terms, as though brushing against them would injure one and touching them would mean death.

But upon closer understanding, one would learn that this was not absolute.

With a casual point, Yao Lao could place the eleventh-ranked Bone Chilling Flame from the Heavenly Flame Ranking into someone's brow without any preparation, leaving that person unharmed. With a slight lift of his hand, Skyfire Venerable could summon Fallen Heart Flame that had already been refined by another. A Dou Emperor could command Heavenly Flames from hundreds of thousands of miles away.

Although Xiao Xun'er also bore the surname Xiao, she was not related to him by blood. Her true identity was the daughter of Gu Yuan, patriarch of the Ancient Clan, an ancient family.

As a Late Ninth-Star Dou Saint of the current era, Gu Yuan was still separated from a Dou Emperor by a great gap. Yet compared to those two remnant souls, he was far stronger. What the two remnant souls could accomplish was naturally even easier for him.

Since childhood, Xiao Xun'er had possessed the Golden Emperor Incinerating Flame, a Heavenly Flame that drove countless alchemists mad with desire. Ranked fourth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, it required fire-control methods to be properly mastered and wielded.

Thinking that this might have been selected by Gu Yuan, Xiao Yan became even more attentive. Xiao Xun'er's explanation was extremely detailed, and by the time she finished, night had fallen.

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er descended the mountain and returned to their respective rooms.

Xiao Yan's enthusiasm had not diminished. Recalling Xiao Xun'er's explanation, he began practicing in his room.

According to Xiao Xun'er, this Dou Technique was called "First Sun Scorching Sky." Though it was only part of an extremely formidable Dou Technique, it was still of the Advanced Profound Rank and was highly suitable for those with fire-attributed Dou Qi.

This Dou Technique was closely tied to the quality of one's Dou Qi. If one could fuse Beast Flame into it, First Sun Scorching Sky would reach the level of Advanced Profound Peak. If one could refine a Heavenly Flame, First Sun Scorching Sky would become comparable to an Earth Tier Dou Technique.

Xiao Yan possessed the aptitude of an alchemist. Not only did he want to refine medicine, but to refine it well, he would certainly need to purchase and fuse Beast Flame. In the future, he would also refine Heavenly Flames.

Compared to Beast Flame, Heavenly Flames were naturally superior. Yet for ordinary alchemists, the most likely flame they could obtain was Beast Flame produced within magical beasts.

Many alchemists spent their entire lives searching for Heavenly Flames born of heaven and earth, only to have their wishes remain unfulfilled. But Xiao Yan was different.

He knew that beneath the eastern region of Stone Desert City lay the Green Lotus Core Flame from the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Ranked nineteenth among the twenty-three Heavenly Flames, it was slightly above the bottom tier and would not be particularly difficult to fuse. Moreover, he knew a method to refine it with ease.

With that, First Sun Scorching Sky would become a Dou Technique that was certain to rival an Earth Tier technique.

Xiao Yan had always cultivated Dou Qi diligently and had never come into contact with Dou Techniques. Now that he had broken through to become a Dou Zhe, it was time for him to begin cultivating them.

And now, the first Dou Technique he learned was one comparable to an Earth Tier technique. Naturally, he was delighted.

He extended his palm. With a thought, he mobilized the Dou Qi within his body, and pale golden light soon spread across his palm.

The higher the rank of a cultivation method, the smoother and faster it could circulate Dou Qi. In battle, an instant could decide life and death. Thus, those who cultivated high-ranking methods often held a tremendous advantage.

Xiao Yan cultivated the Advanced Profound Rank Sacred Sun Technique, so he also held a considerable advantage when practicing Dou Techniques.

As he continuously urged his Dou Qi, more and more gathered in his palm, like a bonfire burning ever more fiercely as it gradually took on the shape of soaring flames.

"Too much..." Seeing the golden light in his palm leap three feet high, Xiao Yan sucked in a breath. As he reduced his Dou Qi output, he controlled the Dou Qi in his palm and compressed it, maintaining it at roughly the size of a fist.

With his current strength, only at this size could he bring out some of the power of an Advanced Profound Rank Dou Technique.

Xiao Yan had to maintain the shape of the Dou Qi while keeping up its output. Both his focus and the Dou Qi within his body were rapidly drained.

After a while, utterly exhausted, he returned to his bed and began circulating his cultivation method.

For three consecutive days, Xiao Yan practiced with all his strength. Whenever his Dou Qi ran dry, he circulated his cultivation method, and the cultivation effect was unexpectedly better than usual.

That morning, not long after Xiao Yan got up, the steward's voice came from outside his room. "Third Young Master, the clan leader requests your presence in the main hall."

After leaving his room, Xiao Yan tended to the medicinal ingredients in the courtyard before making his way to the reception hall.

The hall was spacious enough to seat more than a hundred people, yet it appeared somewhat empty today. Xiao Zhan and the three elders sat at the head of the hall, while Ya Fei alone sat below them on their left.

Her tight red dress displayed her exquisite, voluptuous figure to perfection. Its slit rose extremely high, revealing glimpses of her snow-white, jade-like legs beneath the red fabric, enough to stir the heart.

Xiao Yan raised a brow. Had his medicine cauldron and other items arrived?

"Father, Elders." Xiao Yan quickly stepped forward and bowed to the four people above, acting as though he did not know Ya Fei.

Xiao Zhan smiled and nodded. "This is Miss Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of the Mittel Auction House. You did not attend that auction, so you missed Miss Ya Fei's splendid performance as host."

"Miss Ya Fei." Xiao Yan greeted her warmly.

"So this is Young Master Xiao Yan." Ya Fei slowly rose, her alluring peach-blossom eyes examining this person she had long heard of from head to toe.

Because of Nalan Yanran, quite a few members of Gama Sacred City's great clans had heard Xiao Yan's name.

After coming to Wutan City, she had drawn closer to Xiao Yan. Having also heard countless tales of his frightening cultivation speed—beginning cultivation at four and becoming a Dou Zhe at ten—she had always been curious about this genius.

At their first meeting today, Ya Fei saw that he was tall and elegant, with handsome features. Despite his extraordinary talent, his words were modest and courteous. Had she been a few years younger, perhaps even her heart would have stirred.

Xiao Zhan explained, "Miss Ya Fei has brought the Storage Ring, medicine cauldron, pill formula, and other items you requested."

Returning to herself and recalling the purpose of her visit, Ya Fei took out a pale red ring. She stepped forward, took Xiao Yan's hand, and put it on him, speaking with familiar ease. "Everything is inside. Little Brother Xiao Yan, see whether you are satisfied."

The moment she approached, she suddenly caught a deeply familiar medicinal fragrance. The smile on her lovely face stiffened, and her beautiful eyes stared at Xiao Yan in astonishment. How could it be him?

Noticing Ya Fei's change in expression, Xiao Yan was also quite surprised. He had not exposed even an inch of skin and had even worn boots that made him taller. She could still recognize him?

His expression remained unchanged as he looked at Ya Fei with a faint, knowing smile.

Under Xiao Yan's gaze, Ya Fei—whose back faced Xiao Zhan and the other three—quickly returned her expression to normal and stepped aside.

After trying it a few times, Xiao Yan gave the medicinal ingredients a rough inspection, then took out the medicine cauldron and pill formula.

"Rejuvenation Powder." Xiao Yan glanced at the scroll in his hand, then looked toward the medicine cauldron more than half a meter in front of him. It was entirely black, with a massive lion carved on its surface. Countless golden points of light gleamed upon the lion, making it appear exceptionally strange and clearly valuable at a glance.

Ya Fei pursed her red lips, took out a small booklet, and handed it over. "These are some of Master Gu Ni's personal insights into alchemy. He hopes they will help Little Brother Xiao Yan in his study of medicine refinement."

Upon hearing that there was an additional item, and that it was the alchemy insights of Second-Grade Alchemist Master Gu Ni, Xiao Zhan thanked her profusely.

To Ya Fei at this moment, this heartfelt and entirely unfeigned gratitude only made Xiao Zhan seem deeply calculating and incredibly cunning.

In Ya Fei's view, those two rare hundred-year Spirit-Gathering Herbs had been acquired by Xiao Zhan after exhausting effort. He had then had Xiao Yan take them to the Mittel Auction House in exchange for Qi-Gathering Powder and ask the Mittel Auction House to search for a cultivation method. First, this ensured the formation of a Dou Qi Vortex; second, it caused them to make a misjudgment.

When the cultivation method auction began, Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan had played off each other, frightening everyone, including the patriarchs of the other two great clans, and secured an Advanced Profound Rank cultivation method at an extremely low price. What a scheme!

Seeing that Xiao Yan was satisfied with the items, Ya Fei immediately took her leave. Xiao Yan warmly escorted her out of the clan.

After walking out through the clan gates, Xiao Yan showed no intention of returning. He remained at Ya Fei's side, his expression calm and unchanged, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.